Moistening device for dental-engine handpieces.



D. W. MGLEAN. MOISTE'NING DEVICE POR DENTAL ENGINE HANDPIEGES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 6, 1913.

1,091,522. Patented Mar. 31, 19144 MZK@ Witne ses Inventor Attorneys DAVID W. MCLEAN, 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

MOISTENING DEVICE FOR DENTALLENGINE HANDPIECES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application led December 6, 1913. Serial No. 805,152.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID WIELD MoLnAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Moistening Device for Dental-Engine Handpieces, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to moistening devices for the hand pieces of dental engines, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the nature indicated, which is in the form of an attachment for the hand piece of a dental engine, and which shall be so constructed, and attachable to a source of water or other liquid, to permit a jet of water to be applied to the grinding disk, bur, drill or other tool carried by the hand piece, whereby the tool may be moistened when applied to the tooth or teeth of the patient, which is highly desirable.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an attachment of the character specified, which will be applicable to various hand pieces, the same being attachable to the hand pieces of both foot treadle and electric dental engines.

Another obj ect of the present invention is to provide a novel means for controlling the discharge of water from the attachment, said means being simple, compact, and nonencumbering, and being readily operated by the thumb or fingers of the dentist or operator.

TVith the foregoing general objects out? lined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the inven- I tion is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructal engine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the attachment, illustrating the means for controlling the flow of water therethrough to the nozzle, 4the section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the attachment. Fig. 4 1s an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a customary or arbitrary hand ieee of a foot treadle or electric dental engme, which as illustrated, has the grinding stone or disk 2 applied thereto. It will be apparent, of course, that the grinding disk 2 may be supplanted by a bur 0r drill, according to the nature of the work t0 be done. lt is the primary function of the present device to moisten the grinding disk or other tool 2.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a metallic tube 3 disposed along one side of the hand piece l, and formed at its end with a tapered valve seat 4, and having its inner or rear end bent augularly to form a nipple 5 for the attachment of one end of the rubber tubing or hose 6 leading to a source of Water or fluid supply.

Asleeve or barrel 7 is disposed in alinement with the tube 3, and has one end slipped and secured over the forward end of the tube 3, the sleeve 7 being provided with a lateral port 8 adjoining the end of the tube 3. A needle valve 9 is slidable snugly within the sleeve or valve 7 so that its tip coperates with the valve seat et 'to control the passage of water from the tube 3 through the port or opening 8. The needle valve 9 has a stem 10 slidable through a cap l1 threaded or otherwise engaged with the free or outer end of the sleeve 7, and a coiled wire compression spring 12 is disposed within the sleeve 7 between the cap 11 and the needle valve to yieldably seat the valve.

As a means for opening or unseating the needle valve, a nut' or similar member 1? is engaged to the outer extremity of the valve stem 10, and the sleeve 7 is provided with a projection 14 adjoining its free or forward end. An angular lever 15 is pivoted or fulcrumed to the free end of the projection 1i and one arm thereof is provided with a bifurcated opening or slot 16 engaging the valve stem between the nut 13 and the cap 1l. The other arm of the lever 15 is formed into a thumb or finger piece 17 extending along the side of the sleeve 7. By pressing the thumb or finger piece 17 toward or against the sleeve 7, the valve stem will be drawn outwardly against the tension of the spring 12, so as to unseat the needle valve.

A supplemental tube 18 is soldered or otherwise secured to one side of the sleeve 7 and to the end portion of the tube 3, and is provided with the port or branch 19 registering with the port 8 of the sleeve. The free or outer end of the tube 18 is oset slightly away from the free or outer end of the sleeve 7, as at 20, and the free end of the tube 18 is provided with a tapered socket 21 for the reception of a flexible metallic nozzle The nozzle 22 may be of any length, and may be bent as desired, so that the tip of the nozzle 22 will properly direct the jet ot' water against the tool. A number of nozzles 22 may ordinarily be employed in connection with the present attachment, in 0rder that the several nozzles may be interchangeably employed with the attachment, according to the various tools employed, and to meet the various requirements.

In order to conveniently attach the device to various hand pieces, a clip oit' U-shape is attached rigidly,- by soldering or otherwise, to the. sleeve 7 and tube 15%, as at 23, and an adjustable or slidable U-clip Q4 is mounted on Jhe tube 3, the clip ll having a tubular portion intermediate itsI ends, snugly embracing the tube 13. rl`hus, the clip Q4 may be Islid along the tube 3, and may beswung llmrearoiunl. The clip 223 'is stationary, and may be conveniently applied to the forward end ot' the hand piece, while the clip 24: may be adjusted as desired, in order to properly engage the innei` or rear end portion of the hand piece. In this manner, the device may be applied to various hand pieces, as is highly desirable.

rllie tubing or hose G may be attached to any suitable source of water, such as a special reservoir or container, or may be attached to the service water pipe, to the fountain cuspidor supply pipe, or `Jto the tubing supplying the syringe attachment of the fountain cuspidor. f

In use, when the attachment is applied to a hand piece, and when water is admitted into the tube 3 through the hose or tubing 6, the needlevalvell will ordinarily arrest the low of water. Then, when the engine is in operation, the needle valve may be Opened by j'n'essing the thumb or .finger piece 17 of the lever 15, which will permit the water to be discharged in a stream from the nozzle against or toward the grinding disk or other tool. As soon as the lever 15 is released, the spring 12 will seat the needle-l vvalve to cut ed the flow of water.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, the several advantages and uses ofthe present device will .be obvious to those skilled in the art, and need not be further commented upon.

To prevent leakage, it is preferable to dispose a washer or gasket within the cap 11 to embrace the' valve stem 10 asy seen in Fig. 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, aV tube having a valvel seat at one end, a sleeve having one end engaged over the said end of the tube and having a lateral port adjoining the end of the tube, a valve slidable in the said sleeve coperating with the valve seat, and a tube communicating with the said port.

2. In a device of the character described,

-a tube having a valve seat at one end, a

sleeve in alinement with the tube having one end engaged over the said end of the tube, the sleeve having a lateral port adjoining the end of the tube, a valve slidable in the sleeve and coperablewith the valve seat, a cap engaged over the free end of the sleeve, the valve having a stem slidable through the cap, a compression spring disposed between the cap and the valve, means connected to, the other end of the valve stem Jiior opening the' val-ve, and a supplemental tube attached to the sleeve and communicating with the said port.

3. In a device of the character described, a tube having a valve seat at one end, a sleeve having one end engaged over the said end of the tube and having a lateral port adjoining the end of the tube, a supplemental tube attached to the sleeve and communieating with the said port, a valve slidable in the tube and coperable with the seat, the valve having a stem projecting beyond the free end of the sleeve, `the sleeve having a projection at its free end, and an angular lever having its elbow fulcrumed to the said projection, eratively connected with the valve stem, and the other arm projecting along one side of the sleeve.

In testimony that I my own, I `have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. MCLEAN. y lVitnesses DORA A. DUSENBEBRY, SYBIL V. GUNN.-

one arm of the lever being op claim the foregoing asy 

